They’re scholastic stars that we all admire, so what better day to show our appreciation than World Teachers’ Day this October the 25th? Nothing says ‘thank you’ quite like the effort of a handmade or personalised gift, so we’ve come up with some sweet World Teachers’ Day gift ideas that you can create alongside your kids to really show their teachers how much they care. And if you want to take it to the next level, gather your community for a celebration or get-together in your teacher’s honour! It doesn’t have to be an expensive undertaking with easy-to-style decorations, crafty touches and homemade snacks. We guarantee they'll be touched by the creativity and thoughtfulness.

Did You Know? Internationally, World Teachers Day is celebrated on 5 October each year. However, as this is usually during Australian school holidays, Australia celebrates the day on the last Friday in October of each year.

DIY Gifts They’ll Remember Forever

Teachers are some of the most thoughtful and creative people out there, so you know they’ll appreciate the handmade touches. These three DIY World Teachers’ Day gift ideas will get the kids involved and excited about celebrating their teacher.

Hot Tip: Depending on your state’s department of education policy, your teacher may not be allowed to accept gifts, especially if they are valued over a certain amount. Check with your school if you’re unsure.   

The Word Search Tote Bag

A series of images showing how to create a word search tote bag for a World Teachers’ Day gift idea. This example uses a canvas tote bag, iron-on alphabet stickers and a red marker.

It’s cute, practical and on-theme! This word search tote is surprisingly simple to make. It does take some scissor skills and a hot iron, so adult supervision is essential, but thanks to the iron-on letters and a fabric marker, the hardest part is creating a neat grid to start. 

Step 1: Look up a free word search creator online. Simply add in teacher-themed words, along with the name of your child’s teacher to circle later.

Step 2: Iron the tote bag so you have a flat surface to work on. Then take a ruler and pencil and mark out your grid and lines.

Step 3: Cut out your iron-on letters and place them in alphabetical order to make it easy to find them later. 

Step 4: Refer to your online-made word search and place your letters to make sure you have enough of each. If not, you have time to grab another pack.

Step 5: Iron on each letter in place, keeping a thin piece of material over the letter, then peel off the plastic coating once it’s cool. Work from the top of the grid downwards. You can use the tip of a regular iron, but a mini version is much easier.

Step 6. Lightly go over your pencil lines with an eraser to clean up the remaining grid marks.

Step 7: Place the plastic tote-bag wrapper back inside the tote before using the fabric marker.

Step 8: Circle the name of your child’s teacher, then remove the wrapping inside and finish with a bow.

What You’ll Need

SEE ALSO: 5 Fun DIY Crafts With Cardboard Rolls

The Felt Rosette Badge

A series of images showing how to create a felt rosette badge for a World Teachers’ Day gift idea. This example uses orange ribbon and blue, white and yellow felt.

They’re bright, heart-felt (pun intended) and give your teacher the opportunity to wear their gift with pride. Plus, this project gives kids a chance to flex their creativity and work on their fine motor skills and patience as they find all those little alphabet beads. A win all round.

Step 1: Take the ribbon roll and trace a circle around it on coloured felt, and then cut it out. Repeat with slightly larger circles on other coloured felt pieces.

Step 2: Glue each circle together, using white on top to make the alphabet letters easier to read.

Step 3: Take a couple of lengths of orange ribbon, and make small loops, adding a dab of warm glue at the base as you go. Continue until you have made a circle, larger than your felt circle plate.

Step 4: Flip over your felt circle and add glue around the edge, before pressing down onto your ribbon circle, so that you can see it peeking around the edges.

Step 5: Cut the remaining ribbon into lengths and glue together, then glue to the back of the rosette. Trim as needed.

Step 6: Sort your alphabet letters into a message, then carefully glue onto the front panel of the rosette with a tiny dab of warm glue on each.

Step 7: Create a fresh circle of felt to glue onto the back, hiding any mess. Once dry, add a safety pin.

What You’ll Need

SEE ALSO: 3 Boredom-Busting DIY Construction Activities for Kids

The Stationery Cake

A series of images showing how to make a stationery cake for a World Teachers’ Day gift idea. This example uses wooden crates and boxes, and various stationery items.

The perfect gift idea from a group or class, this showstopper will have a major wow-factor. Plus, it’s extremely practical, giving your teacher fresh stationery to last them into the new year. Even better, the base of the cake becomes handy storage, too. 

Step 1: Create the foundation of your cake depending on the amount of stationery you want to cover it with. If you have lots, go for three or four tiers for maximum impact. Using upside-down crates and boxes means they can pack all the stationery away once it’s unwrapped.

Step 2: Start layering your products around the edges, trying to keep the tall and thinner products at the back and wider ones in front. Use sticky tape to hold in place.

Step 3: Once you have finished a section, wrap it in hessian or ribbon to hold it firm. You can even add smaller bows and flourishes as you go.

Step 4: When you have finished tying it all together, wrap it up in cellophane to make it easy to transport and for the big reveal.

What You’ll Need

Plan a Get-Together

Students and teachers alike will be so excited about a little party or afternoon tea in honour of World Teachers’ Day. Create a sweet invitation with one of Officeworks’ ready-made templates and print it using the Same Day Printing service. Simply order before 2pm, either online or at selected stores, and pick up on the same day. Then, with bright but so-easy-to-style decorations like the Otto Brights Paper Tablecloth and Otto Brights Honeycomb Balls, you can quickly and easily give the get-together lots of colour and impact. Then, if all the students bring their favourite healthy snacks, the classroom or school courtyard will quickly become the perfect celebration spot.

SEE ALSO: Party Decorations To Elevate Your Next Celebration

Personalised Gift Ideas

Going that extra step to choose a pressie that is personalised for your teacher is so thoughtful and never overlooked. These World Teachers’ Day gift ideas are sure to bring a big smile to any teacher’s face and will be useful at school and in their day-to-day lives.

Hot Tip: Allow 7 to 10 business days for printing of personalised items via Officeworks’ Print + Create service.

Gift to Inspire Them

An organisational or creative gift is a simple yet impactful way to say thank you. Whether it’s something to spruce up their desk or an inspiring way for them to unwind, your teacher will appreciate these thoughtful gifts.